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A perilous escape

A growing number of migrants in Greece are trying daily to smuggle themselves onto ferries at Patras to get to Italy. It's a dangerous passage but it has become more appealing since the closure in 2016 of the overland Balkan route to northern Europe.

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Migrants are silhouetted while resting next to the sea as a ferry sails for Italy, from the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A handout picture of an x-ray provided by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows two migrants hiding among goods inside a truck, at the port of Patras, Greece, December 15, 2014. Hellenic Coast Guard/Handout HANDOUT/REUTERS

A driver inspects his truck after two migrants tried to hide inside, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants climb through a metal fence to enter the departures pier of the port of Patras, from where they try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants climb a metal fence to exit the port of Patras, from where they try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, after being chased by the Coast Guard and police officers, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants climb through through a metal fence to exit the departures pier of the port of Patras, from where they try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, as they are chased by the Coast Guard and police officers, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants climb a metal fence to exit the port of Patras, from where they try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, after being chased by the Coast Guard and police officers, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants gather at the yard of a disused factory, near the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant looks out from under a truck as a port police officer waits to detain him, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants jump off a truck they were hiding in as Coast Guard officers stand by, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Two migrants run after jumping off a truck they were hiding in, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant (3-R) speaks with a port police officer, as others climb a metal fence at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A port police officer detains a migrant (L) who was hiding under a truck as a K9 dog is restrained by a private security employee, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant looks out from under a truck as a port police officer waits to detain him at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A port police officer detains a migrant who was hiding under a truck, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants run inside the departures pier of the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, as they are chased by the Coast Guard and police officers, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant runs away from a truck as a Coast Guard officer approaches at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants are seen inside a self-made temporary shelter in a disused factory, near the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant looks out from under a truck as a port police officer waits to detain him at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant has a shower inside a disused factory near the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 7, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

Migrants sit on the roof of a disused building used as shelter, opposite the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A port police officer detains a migrant who was hiding under a truck, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

A migrant is detained after hiding under a truck, at the port of Patras, from where migrants try to smuggle themselves onto ferries to Italy, in Patras, Greece, March 8, 2018. ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS